Coil winding apparatus for magnetic cores



ay 1, E1951 G. R. ANDERSON ET AL COIL WINDING APPARATUS FOR MAGNETICCORES Filed Feb. 15, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 /2 Z '/A/ l/E/V was GORDCN R.ANDERSON JAMES K. GIBBS y L 1951 G. R. ANDERSON EIAL. 2,551,521

COIL WINDING APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC CORES Filed Feb. 15, 1947 5Sheets-Shee't 2 //\/|/5/vr'o GORDON R. ANDERSON JAMES K. GIBBS 5y M 4.#20 w firrore/vfr y 9 1951 G. R. ANDERSON ETAL. 2,551,521

COIL WINDING APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC CORES Filed Feb. 15, 1947 5Sheets-Sheet s FBGB. /0/

/NVE/V7'Ofi?6 GORDN R. ANDERSON JAMES K. GIBBS @QWQ 7!. flwa/ r77 TOENEYay E, H51 :3. R. ANERSON ETAL COIL WINDING APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC CORESFiled Feb 15, 19 .7

5 Sheet-Sheet 4 -//v(/E/v7-oRI5 GORDQN R. ANDERSON JAME K. GIBBS arfifla,4 770F415) y L 1951 G. R. ANDERSON ETAL 2,551,521

COIL WINDING APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC CORES Filed Feb. 15, 1947 5Shams-Sheet 5 JNVENTOR5 GORDON R. ANDERSON JAMES K. GIBBS Patented Mayl, 1951 COIL WINDING APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC CORES Gordon R. Anderson andJames K. Gibbs, Beioit,

Wis., assignors to Fairbanks, Morse & Co.,.Chicago, 111., a corporationof Illinois Application February 15, 1947, Serial No. 728,772

12 Claims.

This invention relates in general to coil winding apparatus, and hasreference more particularly to novel mechanism for forming and windingcoils upon magnetic cores for electrical machines and the like, themechanism according to the invention being especially suitable to thecoil winding of magnetic cores of the character employed in electricalmachines of axial air gap type.

Coil winding apparatus for forming and applying coils to magnetic coresof the character utilized in the conventional cylindrical air gap typeof electric motors, generators, and the like, are known and in someforms thereof, have proved commercially successful particularly in thewinding of armatures, However, such apparatus is wholly unsuited to, andincapable of any ready adaptation for, coil winding of axial air gap machine cores wherein the polar faces are planar, and the coil-receivingslots usually are radially directed or substantially so. Some attemptshave been made to construct coil winding apparatus for axial air gapmachine cores, but such to applicants knowledge have not resulted in anycommercially successful apparatus for this purpose. It is, therefore,the principal object of the present invention to afford a novel andeffective coil forming and winding apparatus which is applicable inparticular, to the coil winding of magnetic cores provided for axial airgap motors, generators and the like.

' Another important object of the invention is to provide apparatus forthe purpose indicated, which includes coil-forming and winding mechanismfor operative association with a slotted magnetic core, adapted to formsuccessive coil loops and substantially simultaneously therewith, toeffect slot-insertion of the loops as they are formed, the mechanismaccomplishing the foregoing in a direct and positive manner such as toafford coils of substantially uniform winding section.

1 Another object is to provide apparatus of the character and for thepurpose indicated, which is adjustable in respect to the rate of coilloop formation, and further, which is readily adaptable to'the formingand applying of coils to the mag-' netic core such that each coilwinding spans a selected number of core slots.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear fromthe following description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof,as such is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein:

' Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a coil forming and windingapparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 i an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of the apparatus,illustrating the coil forming and winding mechanism thereof and a to bewound;

Fig. 4. is a detail plan view of a part of the mechanism, as viewed fromline 6-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mechanism in relation to a core to bewound, as viewed from line 5--5 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the apparatus, showingthe adjustable mounting of a core to be wound;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary section through a coil forming andapplying element or shoe, and the underlying core to be wound, as takenalong line 1-7 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in perspective elevation, of the coil formingand applying shoe;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective, of the element or shoe,illustrating a detail thereof;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the element or shoe, looking toward the underside thereof;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the shoe, as taken from linell-H in Fig. 10, and I Fig. 12 is a view in plan, looking at theunderside of a shoe modified in form over the shoe illustrated in Fig.10 for example, for a purpose to appear from the following description.

Referring to the apparatus in assembly as such appears in Figs. 1 to 6,there is provided a supporting frame structure including a horizontalplatform or table it on vertical legs I i one at each of the fourcorners of the platform, the legs terminating in feet [2 for securementto the floor or other base. Vertically upstanding on the table it]preferably in the region of the left-hand rear corner thereof (Figs. 1and 2) is a standard I l which supports a bracket l5 extending forwardlyover the table. Suitably secured to the bracket at its forward end [6,is a rotar spindle head structure is similar to a drill press head,comprising a housing [9 providing an operative support for a verticallyextending spindle 20 therein, the spindle being of hollow or tubularform and carrying at its lower free end 22 below the housing is, acylindrical bearing element or stud 23 for a purpose to appear. Thespindle 2B is rotatably journalled in housing 59 in any suitable mannernot here shown, such as to permit axial displacement movements thereof,which may be eifected by the well-known expedient frequently employed indrill-press head structures, of a rack 24 and pinion 26 shown in brokenoutline in Fig. l, the pinion being rotatable through an operating lever2? accessible externally of the housing H3. The operative connectionbetween the rack 24 and spindle 20 (not shown) is of a character toallow pinion drive of the rack to raise or lower the spindle, withoutinterference with spindle rotation.

In the present embodiment of the invention, spindle rotation is effectedfrom an electric motor core 28 suitably suspended from a sub-platform 30of the table structure, and preferably direct-connected or close-coupledto a speed-reduction gear unit 3! of any desired type, mounted over themotor on sub-platform 36. The gear-reduction unit 3| is of an adjustablecharacter, regulatable through hand crank 32 such as to determine adesired speed of the power output pulley 3 3 of the unit. A belt 35preferably of the V type, connects pulley 3:3 and the larger pulley 36of a twostep pulley freely journalled on a stub shaft 38 secured to anintermediate portion of the standard M, the smaller step-pulley 39 inturn being connected with pulley 49 of a clutch device 42, by a similarV-belt 43. Clutch pulley 40 is free on a cross-shaft 4t extendinghorizontally and forwardly over the bracket l5, the shaft beingrotatably supported by bearings AB on the bracket and having secured toits forward end a pinion 41. Pinion l! drivingly engages a gear 48suitably rotatably supported on housing IS, the gear being located forextension of the upper end 56 of the spindle 20 axially therethrough,and being splined or otherwise connected to the spindle to effectrotation of the latter while permitting axial displacement movements ofthe spindle relative to the gear.

The clutch device 42 may be of any desired character suitable forpositive connection and disconnection of the shaft 4 3- and pulley 40,and is here controlled at the will of the operator of the apparatus,through a foot-treadle 5| (Figs. 1 and 2). The operating linkage betweenthe treadle and clutch may be as shown, comprised of a rod 52 extendingvertically from the free end 54 of the treadle to one arm 55 of a bellcrank pivoted at 56 to a bracket 58 depending from the forward edge oftable H1. The other arm 59 of the bell crank is connected by a rod 63 toa crank arm 82 on a shaft 63, the shaft being suitably rotatably carriedby a bearing 64 on table H]. A second arm 66 on shaft 63 is connected bya rod 6?, to the clutch operating lever 68. The clutch and operatinglinkage arrangement'is such that in the raised position of the treadle(Fig. 1) the clutch will be disengaged, thereby freeing the shaft 44from the clutch pulley 36, while upon operator-depression of thetreadle, the clutch will be thereby engaged to connect the shaft andpulley 4Q for spindle rotation.

With reference now in particular to Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the slottedmagnetic core to be wound, is arranged on the table It below the spindlehead structure. In the present example, the core shown at T0, is seatedand axially centered upon a disc-like support H having a central hub '52which is bored axially as at '54. The support H which may rest upon thetable it, is located to receive in the bore 74 thereof, an upstandingcylindrical stud 15 formed as a part of a slide member or block ll.Block 1'! projects downwardly through an elongate slot l8 provided intable 10, and is slidable therealong upon flangeways 80 along thelongitudinal slot margins. The position of the block along the slot maybe determined as desired, by an adjustment device comprising a threadedrod 8| rotatably carried by a depending portion 82 of the table Ill atits forward edge, and threadedly engaging the block 7'! below the table.An operating handle 85 fixed to the rod at its forward end, facilitatesturning of the rod to effect threaded displacement of block T. along thetable slot 18, whereby adjustments in the position of the magnetic core4 70 may be effected for the coil winding operation as will appearhereinafter. Axial movement of the rod 8i is prevented by a collarthereon in abutment with table portion 82.

As will appear from the drawing, particularly Figs. 5 and 6, the tableslot 18 has its major or longitudinal extent directed substantiallynormal to the front margin or edge 86 of table It, and further islocated such that the longitudinal slot axis in extension intersects thevertical axis of the rotary spindle 20. Moreover, the axis of the blockstud l6, coincident with the axis of the spindle 2E], intersects thelongitudinal slot axis. From this it will appear that in block movementto shift the core 16 toward or from the forward table edge 86 as areference, the axis of the annular core Ill which is coincident with theaxis of the support II, will move along a straight line which intersectsthe core axis and the axis of spindle 2!]. Displacement of the coreforwardly of the table H1 is, however, limited as by abutment of theblock 1'! with the end 88 of slot 18, such that the core axis cannot bebrought into coincidence with the spindle axis. The purpose served bythe foregoing relative arrangement of parts, will appear from thedescription hereinafter of the operation of the apparatus.

It is to be noted here that While the support H for the core to bewound, may be provided as a part of the winding apparatus, in practicethe support may well be the core-supporting frame of the electricalmachine, as a motor or generator, in which the core when wound, is to beembodied. In either case, the support H embodies a corecenteringexpedient, as the circular shoulder 89 against which abuts the innercircumferential margin 90 of the core '10, whereby the axis of theannular core is located in coincidence with the axis of the hub '52 ofthe support. Furthermore and for a purpose to appear, the core support'H which is mounted on block TE through reception of the block stud 16in the hub bore 14 of the support, is relatively freely rotatable on theblock, about the stud as the axis.

Turning now to the coil forming and winding member or shoe, and itsapplication to the core 10 (Figs. 5 to 11), the shoe indicated generallyby the numeral 92, comprises a body 93 providing a centrally outstandingcylindrical hub 94 which is step-bored therethrough to provide thelarger bore 98 open to the hub end 9'! and terminating within the hub ina shoulder 98 (Fig. 6). The body face I00 from which the hub 94 extends,is rimmed by a continuous, upstanding flange IUI. The body with. theflange IDI is formed according to the configuration shown, to presentopposite flat or planar side faces I02 and I04 which are angularlyrelated as appears, merging at the narrow end of the body with thearcuate end face I05 and diverging therefrom to mergence with theopposite arcuate end face I06. The opposite or under face I08 of theshoe is planar in conformity with the planar pole face I69 of the core10 with which it contacts in operative position ment of the shoe on thecore. For locating the shoe on the core face I09 radially of the core,the body structure includes opposite flange-like projections H0 and H2,the projection H0 presenting a face H3 of a curvature corresponding tothe curvature of the inner face H4. of the core 10, and the otherprojection H2 presenting a face H6 of a curvature corresponding to thecurvature of the outer core face H1, these faces of the flangeprojections being disposedadjacent the indicated core faces in placementof the shoe on the core, as may be appreciated from the sectional viewof Fig. 6.

In the present example, the shoe is adapted in its dimensioning, forspanning five slots of the core and such that when the shoe is properlylocated on the core, the planar shoe face I02 will be in a plane throughthe radial center line of the opening I I!) to the first core slot I'M(Figs. 5 and '7), while the shoe face IE4 similarly will be in a planethrough the radial center line of the opening I2I to the fifth core slotI22. Thus the angle of convergence of the shoe faces I62 and I64 isequal to the angle between the radial axes of the first and fifth slotsof the five slots spanned by the shoe. The foregoing location of theshoe relative to the core slots spanned, is here afforded in a positivemanner by flange-likeelements I24 outstanding on the core-engaging faceI86 of the shoe (Figs. 7 and 10), these being positioned and relativelyangularly directed for seating in the slot openings I26 and I2? of thesecond and fourthslots I28 and I38 respectively, in shoe mounting on thecore. The flange elements I24 may be integral with the shoe body, but aspresently preferred, each is provided as a separate strip memberinserted through a slot I3I in the body 93 (Fig. 7) and suitably securedtherein. Further, in order to facilitate ready insertion of these shoelocating elements in the core slot openings, each has its marginal edgesI32 rounded or bevelled as shown.

The shoe $2 provides as before indicated, the wire guide andcoil-formingpartof theapparatus, being effective as a line of wire isled by means presently to be described, about and in substantialengagement with the shoe side and end faces, to determine successivecoil loops each of a form corresponding to the perimetral contour of theshoe. Importantly to the present invention, the shoe contourparticularly of the end faces I05 and I B6, is such as to adapt the shoefor the further function of causing coil loop insertion in the coreslots in registry with the shoe sides I82 and I84, this taking placesubstantially coincidentally with coil loop formation as will appearhereafter.

'With reference now to Figs. 8 to 11 in particular, the shorter arcuateend face I65 of the shoe 92 is undercut as appears in Figs. 8 and 10 andfrom the sectional view of Fig. 6, in a manner to provide a bevelledsurface portion I34 continuing inwardly of the shoe from thepartcylindrical surface I35 which is uppermost in the position of theshoe on the core to be wound, and a surface portion I35 bevelledinwardly to a lesser degree than the bevelled surface portion I34,adjoining the latter with the line of juncture indicated by aperceptible score line I38 (Fig. 10). Surface I35 continues over thescore line I39, into the part-cylindrical surface I46, the surface I46and an adjacent portion of bevelled surface I35 being the outer surfaceof the body projection lit. Moreover, the arcuate or partcylindricalsurfaces 135 and I46 are substantially normal to the plane of the shoebody. Addi- 'tionally and for a purpose to appear, the ends of theprojection III are reduced to provide shoulders I42, while the surfacesat the ends of the surface portion I48 are curved inwardly relativelysharply as shown. All corners and surface division zones are smoothlyrounded to facilitate wire displacement thereover as will later appear.

The opposite end surface IN on the other hand, is. formed to present theuppermost part-cylindrical surface portion I43 continuing smoothly intoan inwardly and downwardly bevelled surface I44 of arcuate extent, thelatter smoothly merging with a planar surface portion I46 substantiallin the plane of the shoe body. Continuing from the planar surface I46 tothe lower margin I47 of the shoe extension II2and constituting theexternal surface of the latter, is

the curved surface I48 which is non-parallel with the inner radiallyarcuate surface II6 of the extension. The extension. H2 in plan view(Fig. 10) thus is somewhat wedge-shape, convergingfrom the wide end I50to the relatively narrow end IEI. At the wide end, the extension isreduced to provide a shoulder I52, while the adjacent surface portionI54 of surface I48, is.

curved inwardly rather sharply, as shown.

Similarly at the narrow end IEI, this end is re- I duced to provide alike shoulder I55, while the. adjacent portion I53 of surface I48iscurvedinawardly sharply in the zone of the; shoulder. Moreover and asappears from Figs. 9 and 10, the surfaces I44 and I46 merge into arounded surface portion I56 which is at an inclination to surface I46,upwardly toward the juncture of surfaces I43 and shoe side surface I82.This forms a somewhat triangular surface element I51 which is acontinuation of the surface I48 upwardly over the shoulder I andadjoining the flat side I04 of the shoe.

The foregoing described side and end surfaces of the shoe provide aperimetral surface effective to determine the shape of the coil turns inthe coal-forming operation presently to appear.

Moreover and importantly herein, these afford camming surface portionsespecially at the ends I and IE6 of the shoe, which serve to causedownward displacement of the coil loops substantially as they areformed, in a positive manner and with a snap-displacement of each loop,so that the sides of each coil turn or loop are caused thereby to enterand seat in the core slots.

Describing now the mechanism for supplying wire and conducting the sameabout the forming shoe 92, the wire source is provided by a spool ofwire I53 (Fig. l) rotatably arranged on a spindle support I59, the wirebeing of desired gauge and;

surface-insulated as .by an enamel coating. From the spool the wire lineI62) extends over guide wheels IGI and I62 carried by an arm structureI63 rotatable on spindle I 59 and suitably yielclably braked or retardedin its turning, by.

a loading spring I64, the line continuing upwardly to and over a guidewheel I66 rotatably carried by a bracket I51 fixed on the upper endofthe standard I 4 and bracket I5. The wire line extendsover a secondguide wheel I68 on bracket I61, the latter wheel being located relativetotheranged through the slots is a guide wheel I'I4' freely rotatable onan axle pin I15 which is removably supported in the block. As appearsfrom Fig. 4, the position of the guide wheel in its pro- I jecti oninteriorly of the spindle ZILis such that The block is slotted,- at IIlin registry with an axially directed'slot I12 provided through the wallof spindle 20, and ar the axis of the spindle is substantiallytangential to the wheel periphery. Carried externally on the block H isa bracket arm I79 projecting laterally therefrom in a direction normalto the spindle 20, and having at its outer end and extending therebelow,a support I18 for a vertically depending chuck or clamp device I79. Thedevice I79 which in construction, may be similar to a tool chuck ofordinary type, is provided for the vertically adjustable support of atubular element I80 havin its free end portion I82 curved toward thehorizontal (Fig. 1).

By preference, the block I79 is recessed in its side I83 to receive thebracket I'IE and to provide upper and lower guide shoulders I84 for thecorresponding upper and lower margins I86 of the bracket. The bracketfurther has a central longitudinal slot IB'I through which extends abracket mounting screw or bolt I88. Thus the bracket may be adjustedtransversely of the spindle to determine the relative spacing of thespindle and clamp Or chuck I19, it being noted that the chuck parallelsthe spindle. Carried on the bracket I16 inwardly of its outer end is asmall guide wheel I90, this wheel being freely rotatable on an axleelement I9I fixed to the bracket, and located so that the vertical axisof the chuck I19 is tangent to the wheel periphery (Fig. 3).

The wire line I90 extending downwardly in the hollow spindle 20 asbefore indicated, is extended below and over the guide wheel I14 andthence laterally outwardly from the spindle to and over the guide wheelI90, continuing downwardly through the chuck I'I9 and through thetubular element I80. The free end I92 of the wire line I60 thus exposedbeyond the end of the element I80, is extended to and releasably held ina suitable holding device l90 mounted on the table I9 (Figs. 3 and Ashere shown, the device I94 comprises a spindle I95 upright on a basemember I96, the latter seated on the table It and adjustably clampedthereto through a bolt I98 extending through a slot I99 in member I96and threaded into the table. Freely rotatable on the spindle is an arm280, the arm restin upon a spring 202 and held thereagainst by a holdingnut 203 threaded on the spindle. Supported at the end of the arm 200 isa friction-type vise 204, providing cooperating saw-tooth jaws 206 and201 between which is clamped the end I92 of the wire.

Turning now to the operation of the mechanism, the magnetic core III tobe wound, is centered upon the frame Or support II, or if the support IIis the machine frame for the core, the

core and frame unit is placed on the table with the frame hub 72 overthe stud I8 of slide block 'II. polar face of the core, with the shoeflanges HIE and H2 in engagement respectively with the inner and outercore faces I I4 and ill, and further, with the shoe flange elements I24engaged in the slot openings of two of the underlying slots, ashereinbefore described. Now the core and its frame being freelyrotatable about the stud I6, are turned to bring the hub 94 of the shoe92, beneath the stud 23 on the lower end of spindle 20. Vertical oraxial alignment of the shoe hub and spindle stud then is attained as thespindle is v lowered by operation of lever 21, through actuation ofhandle 84 to cause displacement of block Whereupon the shoe 92 is placedon the 11 longitudinally of the table slot I9, and with As this is done,the

direction or the other, until substantially exact alignment is obtained,when the stud 23 on spindle 20 will enter the shoe hub bore 96 as thespindle is lowered, until the stud bottoms against the bore shoulder 98(Fig. 6).

It may be noted here and as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, thespindle stud 23 preferably is mounted on the lower end of the spindle 20through roller or ball bearings indicated in dotted lines at 2I0,whereby the stud may remain sta tionary in the shoe hub bore 96 whilethe spindle rotates. Thus the spindle stud 23 when engaged with the shoe92, provides a foot bearing for the rotary spindle, and importantlyalso, serves to hold the shoe in place on the core I0.

Following positionment of the shoe and spindle as above described, thebracket H6 is adjusted to locate the chuck I19 and tube element I80 orwire guide as it may be called, such that the latter will clear theperiphery of the shoe in spindle rotation of these elements about theshoe during the coil-forming and core slot winding process.Additionally, the tube element is vertically adjusted in the chuck 1T9so that the lower curved end I82 thereof clears the polar face I99 ofthe core 10, as this is indicated in Fig. 3, the curved end I82 beingdirected oppositely to the direction of its movement about the shoe 92,which is counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 5.

Before the core is wound, the slots S thereof are lined with suitableinserts 2H of insulating material, this being usual practice in corewinding. Furthermore, it. is to be noted that in con structing the shoe92, the undercutting of the edges at the shoe end faces I05 and I06 suchas to provide the several shoulders I42, I52 and I55, is determined sothat the marginal portions thereof do not overlap or extend over theopen ends of the adjacent core slots, as this appears from Figs. 3 and'7. Thus interference with slot insertion of the coil turns and with thefinal windings in the slots, is thereby avoided.

The mechanism having its coil feeding and winding parts arrangedrelative to each other and to the core as above described, is now readyfor the winding process, the wire line I leading from the spool supplythrough the mechanism to the clamp I94, being directed over the shoe endface I06 (Fig. 5) under a slight tension as may be determined by theresistance of the braking spring I64 at the spool support I59. Now upondepression of the foot treadle '5I by the operator, to operate theclutch 42 for connecting the motor drive to the spindle 20, theresulting rotation of the spindle produces rotation of the wire guidetube I89 about the shoe 92. The rate of tube movement about the shoe maybe controlled to any desired extent, by adjustment of the reduction gearunit 3|, as to determine for example, a tube speed of say one to five ormore revolutions per second, depending in part upon the number of coilturns to be wound, and in part upon the size of the wire to be wound, agreater speed of winding being employed for light or small diameter wireand a lesser speed for heavy or large diameter wire. The tube I00 in itsrotation, feeds wire from the spool source and guides the wire issuingfrom the tube end 582, about the shoe side and end surfaces, therebyforming successive coil loops of a shape determined by the peripheralsurfaces of the shoe 92, as this will appear more fully hereinafter.

As will appear from Figs. 3 and 5, at the outset of the operation thewire from its end held by 9 the clamp I94, extends over and in contactwith the shoe end surface portion I48 and upwardly overthe cam surfaceportion I51, and thence away from the shoe to the end I82 of the guidetube -I 30. Now as the guide tube'is rotated counterclockwise about theforming shoe, as viewed in Fig. 5, the wire I60 having its end fixed atthe clamp I94, will feed through the tube I80 and be led by the tube endI82, along the shoe side 34 and thence over and in engagement initially,with the bevelled surface I34 at the shoe end face I05. As this occurs,the portion of the wire contacting the shoe end surface portion I51, iscammed downwardly thereby, the wire snapping over the shoulder I55 andthence downwardly over-the end or tip surface I53. The wire thus iscaused to enter the core slot I22 through the slot opening I2I, beingguided thereinto by the flat side I04 of the shoe which parallels theslot opening IZLthereover. Similarly at the inner end I05 of the shoe,thewire is cammed downwardly by the shoe end surfaces I34 and I36,

snapping over the shoulder I42 and downwardly over the sharply curvedend of the surface I40.

The guide tube I80 continuing the wire line about the shoe, thencebrings the wire along the opposite flat side I02 of the shoe, the wiresnapping over the shoulders I42 and I52, the latter at the forward endof the shoe, and entering slot I20 through slot opening H8. Enterin ofthe wire through slot opening H8 is here assisted by the shoe surfaceI44 which as the wire is led thereover by the guide tube I80, cams thewire downwardly to a position beneath the shoe surface I45 and incontact with the surface I48. The first coil loop is thus completed,being shaped by the shoe surfaces engaged thereby in the winding processand cammed by these surfaces, into position in the core slots I20 andI22. Each succeeding coil loop is formed and seated in the slots inexactly the same manner, and the winding process is continued until thedesired number of coil turns has been formed in the slots.

- It may be repeated here that the shoe camming surfaces at the ends I05and I06, including the shoulders at the ends of these surfaces, serve toeffect positive movement or snap-displacement of the coil turns as theyare formed by the shoe, towardthe oore'and such as to cause the sides ofthe turns to enter and seat in the core slots. Moreover, it is to benoted that by reason of the snap-in of the coil loops in the-slots, thecoils tend to build up from the bottom of the slots in superposedlayers, so that as has been found in practical application of thepresent apparatus, the final windings are remarkably uniform andfurther, each winding is found to be of substantially uniform windingsection in the slot sides thereof.

In order to advise the'operator when-the desired number of coil turns inthe slots is reached in the winding operation, an indicating coilturncounter device 2I5 of any suitable known type, may be provided in fullView of the operator, preferably on the spindle head housing iii asshown in Fig. 2. The counter drive is provided from the rotary spindle20, through gearing 2:5. It may be noted here although not shown, thatthe counter 2i5 may be readily adapted in Well known manner to affordautomatic stoppage of the winding process when the selected number ofturns is attained. To this end, the-counter may control a cut-out switchin the energizing circuit to motor 23.

Upon completion of the coil-forming and winding process as to slots I20and I22, the spindle 20 is lifted to clear the spindle stud 23 relativeto the shoe 92, so that the latter is free to be lifted from its coreseating and reapplied on the core to align the shoe sides IE2 and W4 saywith the next adjacent core slots E28 and 2l8 respectively, as viewed inFig. 3. Whereupon the core assembly is again adjusted in the mannerhereinbefore described, to locate the same for insertion of the spindlestud 23 in the bore 95 of shoe hub 05. Following this, the Windingprocess is repeated as to the slots I 28 and 2I8. In this way, theentire core ":0 may be easily and quickiy provided with coil windings.

While the shoe 92 hereinabove described, is shown as adapted forspanning five core slots and hence, serving in the winding process toform and apply coil windings to the core such that the coil sides willbe in the first and fifth of thesiots spanned, it will be readilyappreciated now that coil windings spanning a different number of slots,may be obtained by substituting for the shoe 92 a similar shoecharacterized however, by its adaptation for spanning less than fiveslots or a greater number thereof. For example, there is illustrated inbottom plan elevation in Fig. 12, a forming and winding shoe 220-adapted to span eleven slots of the core to be wound. Although the coilforming and applying function of this shoe is the same in result, asobtains for the shoe 92, there are differences in certain of the wirecam ming surfaces thereof, as readily appear. The bevelled surface ZZIat the forward or wide end of the shoe, is fairly uniform from one shoeside 222 to the other side 226, and is of circular ex" tent on asubstantially uniform radius. The planar surface 225 also is here ofgreater extent than the corresponding surface I45 of shoe 92. Further,at the narrow end of the shoe there formed but a single bevelled surface225, this taking the place of the two bevelled surfaces I34 and I30 atthe end face M35 of shoe $2. As for the slot-engaging, shoe locatingflange elements 228 outstanding onthe pole face engaging surface 229 ofthe shoe, these by preference are relatively spaced such that one seatsin the slot opening of the second slot and the other in the slot openingof the tenth slot, of the eleven slots spanned by the shoe.

The present apparatus is well adapted without change except in thesubstitution of forming shoes, to the winding of magnetic cores ofdifferent diameters. the wire guide I is adjustable toward or from thespindle 20 through the slot mounting of the bracket i1 5 on the block870, while the guide I80 is adjustable vertically in chuck I19, and thecore mounting stud it of block device Ii, is adjustable along the tableslot I8, these parts may be adjusted to any given diameter core, so thatboth large and small cores may be wound with equal facility.

The foregoing description relates to a presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention as such is illustrated by the drawings, and it is to heunderstood that such is not presented in any limiting sense, since itwill be appreciated that modifications in the structure and relation ofparts thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and fullintended scopefof the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device for forming and winding coils Since the chuck il'Qcarrying in the slots of magnetic core members for electrical machinesand the like, a coil forming member provided as a single block elementadapted for positionment on a core to span a selected pair of the coreslots, and means operable to lead a line of wire about said formingmember to form coil loops, said forming member having opposite curvedcamming surfaces and shoulders at the ends of the camming surfacesengaged by the wire loops as they are formed, effective to causedisplacemet of the wire loops toward the core to seat portions thereofin said pair of core slots.

2. In a device for forming and Winding coils in the slots of magneticcore members for electrical machines and the like, a coil forming memberpositionable on a core to span a selected pair of core slots, saidmember being comprised of a single block element formed on its peripheryto afford relatively planar surface portions for registry with saidselected slots and angulate surface portions joining the planar surfaceportions, each of said angulate surface portions including anintermediate inwardly beveled surface substantially coextensive with thelength of the angulate surface portion and shoulders adjacent the endsof the beveled surface, and means movable about the periphery of saidmemher in relatively close proximity thereto, operable to lead a line ofWire about and in substantial contact with said surface portions of themember to form coil loops, said angulate surface portions beingeffective through said shoulders and beveled surfaces to causedisplacement of each coil loop as it is formed, toward the core, andsaid planar surface portions serving upon loop displacement, to guidethe loop portions in contact therewith into the selected pair of coreslots.

3. In a device for forming and winding coils in the slots of magneticcore members for electrical machines and the like, a coil forming memberadapted for support on a core to span a selected pair of core slots, andWire feeder means including a wire guide movable continuously about saidmember and operable to lead a line of wire in substantial contact withthe member such as to form successive coil loops, said coil formingmember comprising a single block element providing opposite curved endsurfaces each including an intermediate beveled surface portion of alength approximating the length of the end surface and shouldersadjacent the ends of the beveled surface portion, said block elementbeing effective through said shoulders and beveled surface portions, forcausing a substantially snap-displacement of each coil loop as it isformed, toward the core such as to seat portions of the coil loop insaid selected slots.

4. The combination with a magnetic core for an electrical machine,characterized by a planar pole face of circular extent and substantiallyradially directed slots therein, of means for forming and winding coilsin the core slots, comprising a member having opposite substantiallyplanar sides and curved ends joining the planar sides, each curved endof said member having an intermediate beveled surface portionsubstantially coextensive with the length of the curved end andshoulders near the end margins of the curved end, said member beingpositionable on the core pole face to span a selected pair of the coreslots, with the planar sides of the member in registry with the selectedslots, means l2 movable about the member and operable to lead a line ofwire in contact with said sides and ends to form successive coil loops,said curved ends of the member serving through said beveled surfaces andshoulders thereof, to cause snap displacement of the coil loops as theyare formed, toward the core, and said planar sides of the member servingupon loop displacement, to guide the loop portions in contact therewith,into said selected core slots, and drive means for said movable means,regulatable for determining the rate of movement of the latter means.

5. In a device for forming and winding coils in the slots of magneticcores for electrical iachines and the like, a coil forming memberadapted for positionment on a core to span a selected pair of coreslots, a line of coil wire extending adjacent said member, means forholding the free end of said wire line, a wire guide rotatable aboutsaid member and operaole to lead the wire line about the forming memberto form coil loops, said forming member being provided to havewire-engaging surfaces of a predetermined curvature, each including anintermediate beveled surface portion substantially coextensive with thelength of the curved surface and shoulders near the marginal ends of thesurface, thereby adapting the member for causing displacement of thecoil loops as they are formed, toward the core to seat portions thereofin the selected core slots, and drive means for said wire guide,adjustable to determine the rate of guide rotation about the formingmember.

6. A coil forming member of the character described, comprising aforming shoe having opposite substantially planar sides normal to theplane of the shoe, curved ends joining the planar sides and eachincluding a beveled surface portion over approximately the length of theend. and said shoe further having a shoulder formed in one end margin ofeach of said curved ends.

7. A coil forming member of the character described, comprising aforming shoe having opposite substantially planar sides normal to theplane of the shoe, curved end surfaces joining the planar sides and eachincluding an intermediate beveled surface portion over approximately thelength of the end, and the marginal ends of each of said curved endsurfaces being reduced to form shoulders adjacent the ends of saidbeveled surface portions.

8. A coil forming member "of the character described, comprising aforming shoe having opposite substantially planar sides normal to theplane of the shoe, and arcuate ends of unequal length, said sidesdiverging uniformly from the shorter arcuate end to the longer arcuateend of the shoe, the shorter arcuate end being formed to presentdistinct inwardly beveled surface portions and a part-cylindricalsurface portion adjoining one of said beveled surface portions andhaving its ends reduced to form shoulders adjacent the ends of saidbeveled surface, and the longer arcuate end of the shoe being formed toprovide an inwardly beveled surface portion and a curved surface normalto the plane of the shoe, spaced from the beveled surface andterminating in shoulders at it ends, said curved surface at one end ofthe longer arcuate shoe end, continuing to intersection it"lt'h saidbeveled surface.

9. A coil forming member of the character described, for positionment ona magnetic core having a planar pole face of circular extent, and radialslots therein, comprising a forming shoe having opposite substantiallyplanar sides normal to the plane of the shoe and end surfaces joiningsaid planar sides, each of the end surfaces having a surface contour ofpredetermined curvature, including a beveled surface portion overapproximately the length of the end, the marginal ends of said endsurfaces being reduced to form shoulders adjacent the ends of saidbeveled surface portions, and means on said shoe engageable with thecore such as to locate the shoe on the core pole face to align theplanar sides of the shoe with a selected pair of the core slots.

10. Mechanism for forming and winding coils on slotted magnetic coresfor electrical machines, wherein the core is characterized by a planarpole face of circular extent, having substantially radially directedslots therein, a table, means on the table providing a core support,said core support receiving a core thereon with the core pole facehorizontal and exposed above the table, a rotary spindle operativelysupported on the table in a vertical position over the core support,controllable drive means for said spinlo, a coil-forming shoepositionable on the face of the core and adapted for spanning a selectedpair of the core slots, said core support being both rotatable andbodily shiftable relative to the table, whereby to permit location ofsaid shoe in its position on the core, vertically below said spindle, awire guide device on said spindle and arranged for rotation about saidforming shoe, means affording a source of coil wire, means guiding aline of wire from the source, to said spindle and through said guidedevice and adjacent said shoe, and holding means on the table for thefree end of the wire line, said guide device upon spindle rotation,rotating about said shoe and leading the wire line in contact therewithto form successive coil loops, said shoe being adapted for'causingdisplacement of the loops as they are formed, toward the core to enterportions thereof in said selected pair of core slots.

11. Mechanism for forming and winding coils on slotted magnetic coresfor electrical machines, wherein the core is characterized by a planarpole face of circular extent, having substantially radially directedslots therein, a table, means on the table providing a core support,receiving the core thereon in a horizontal position with the slotsuppermost, a longitudinally hollow rotary spindle operatively supportedon the table in a vertical position over the core support, controllabledrive means for said spindle, a coil-forming shoe positionable on thecore pole face and adapted for spanning a selected pair of core slots,said core support being both rotatable and bodily shiftable relative tothe table, whereby to permit location of said shoe in its position onthe core, vertically below said spindle, a wire guide device carried bysaid spindle and extending downwardly for rotation about said shoe uponspindle rotation, means affording a source of coil wire, means guiding aline of wire from the source to and through said hollow spindle, thenceto and through said guide device to adjacence with said shoe, andholding means on said table for the free end of the wire line, saidguide device upon spindle rotation, rotating about the shoe and leadingthe wire line in contact therewith to form successive coil loops, saidshoe being formed to provide camming surfaces engaged by the wire inloop formation, adapted for causing displacement of the coil loops asthey are formed, toward the core to enter portions thereof in saidselected pair of core slots.

12. Mechanism for forming and winding coils on slotted magnetic coresfor electrical machines, wherein the core is characterized by a planarpole face of circular extent, having substantially radially directedslots therein, a table, means on the table providing a core support,receiving the core thereon in a horizontal position with the slotsuppermost, a rotary spindle operatively supported on the table in avertical position over the core support, said spindle being verticallydisplaceable toward and from the core support, a bearing element on thelower end of the spindle, a controllable drive for said spindle, acoil-forming shoe positionable on the core pole face and adapted forspanning a selected pair of core slots, the shoe providing a hub havingan upwardly opening recess therein, said core support being bothrotatable and bodily shiftable relative to the table, whereby to permitlocation of said shoe in its position on the core, vertically below saidspindle with said hub recess in alignment therewith, said spindle inoperation, being displaced downwardly to seat said bearing element insaid shoe hub recess, a wire guide device carried by said spindle andextending downwardly for rotation about said shoe upon spindle rotation,means affording a source of coil wire, means guiding a line of wire fromsaid source to said spindle and into guided association with said guidedevice, the wire line continuing from the latter to adjacence with saidshoe, and

T means on the table for holding the terminal end of said wire line,said guide device upon spindle rotation, rotating about the shoe andleading the wire line in contact therewith to form successive coilloops, said shoe being adapted for causing displacement of the coilloops as they are formed, toward the core to enter portions thereof insaid selected pair of core slots.

GORDON R. ANDERSON.

JAMES K. GIBBS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,408,639 Rhoades Mar. '7, 19221,431,947 Gysel Oct. 17, 1922 1,503,254 Sippel et al. July 29, 19241,518,209 McCord Dec. 9, 1924

